1889-1895
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/9/9
Letters written by William James Snape between June 1889 and December 1895
Strange you have not been called upon by the Board of Trade to submit returns. I refer you to Mr Currey of the Canal Association for further information.
Our short distance tolls are different to those of a long distance canal as we are under the 10 mile limit.
I want to hear how tolls are to be treated for short canals under the 10 mile limit.
I hear Mr George Nurse of Bristol has bought the old 'George'. Don't allow her to leave the Canal before Canal dues are paid.
Tell the man who comes for the 'George' that £1 will have to be paid to Mr Fredericks before leaving the Canal. Please send by return of post a list of names of those who will have to pay for water.
£1 will have to be paid before the 'George' is removed from the Canal.
Again I am returning your account as incorrect. Do not send it again in its present form.
Dock dues are 2s 6d per day; the £1 to be paid at the Junction is for wages of the Co's men.
Mrs Williams owes for rent and rates and must pay at least some of it. E Harris lives in the house and should become the tenant. Notice will be given to Mrs Williams.
Enclosing post office order for returned lime bags.
I asked you to send me information by return of post and you have not done so. This is not the first time and if you cannot carry out my instructions someone else must.
No need to use the Ice Boat as it is thawing. Send me a written statement about Oliver's health and get a Medical Certificate from the Doctor.
The Committee instructs me to inform you that your full wages are to be paid for another fortnight and 5s per week afterwards until the next meeting. Please leave the house you occupy no later than 25th March.
You can use two of the three stalls at the stable for £6.10.0 for the year or 3s by the week. The third stall is wanted by the occupants of the cottage.
Where were you last Saturday and Wednesday morning? You were not at the Yard for some time nor on the Canal. Give me the name of the man after the rubbish from the 'George'. Tell Mr Nurse 25s must be paid when the 'George' leaves the Canal.
Your application for the house at Dudbridge Wharf cannot be entertained.
Please reply to my note I sent you today by Monday morning.
I enclose two bills for the use of the dock at Eastington and for looking after the barge, drawing water, etc in addition to the charge already made.
I have sent a bill to Mr Nurse. Do not allow any of the old wood to be taken away until you hear from me. The other part of your letter will be further considered.
Thanks for the cheque for £3. The charge for the timber would be 1s 8d if by the 'Sea Breeze' and 3s 4d if by your own barge working both ways. Please remove it as soon as possible as it is in the way.
Mr Nurse has paid. All payments for removing the timber will be paid at the Junction. Whiting says he never touched the small boat or knows anything about it so find out full particulars and let me have them in writing.
Thanks for your letter about Whiting. I think his men broke the ice to allow his boat to get close in to load. Mr Nurse has paid but charge him for taking the old timber away.
Would the Board dispense with £50 charge as this is a small company and only able to earn a small dividend.
At once deal with Stonehouse Swing Bridge, the Cross Bridge, the coal wharf and Ryeford Footbridge.
Enclosing documents as requested. As I have received no reply to my previous letter. I trust the Board will dispense with the £50 payment.
We shall charge for coal destined for the G&B Canal to pass from Framilode to the Junction.
I enclose a copy of our Revised Classification of Merchandise and Revised Schedule of Maximum Tolls and Charges. Please send me yours.
Mr Ayliffe should be charged for carrying coal from Framilode to the Junction for the Sharpness Dock Co.
Enclosing agreement for the renting of premises at Whitminster.
The tenant of the 'Ship Inn' is using the old wash house as a stable. This is not acceptable as it communicates with the bar and the dwelling and is dangerous to health.
Thank you for your schedule of rates. I enclose a copy of rates for this Co. Please send your Stourbridge schedule.
Enclosing cheque for £50 and two maps of the Canal.
The Committee, of which I am Chairman, have resolved to terminate your services on 25th March. Regard this as notice of such and that possession of the house you occupy will have to be given up on that day. Signed E Caruthers Little
Committee accepted your application for our house at Dudbridge Wharf.
James Powell is to return to his old place on the boat and you should go down to the Eastington Yard to help Sittington until further notice.
Commence your usual duties tomorrow; your time will be reckoned as from last Saturday morning. Continue to occupy your cottage until further notice. Mr Bullock will come to assist you and set him to work to clear up the Yard, clear out the carpenter's shed and burn the rubbish.
Please assist the men going to Framilode and the Ocean to cut osiers then go to your usual place in the boat as Captain as in the past.
Enclosing cheque for £3-3-0 together with a copy of a Minute from a Committee Meeting relating to your alleged loss of a horse slipping into the Canal when dragging the Ice Boat.
Thank you for your Stourbridge Canal Classification, etc. If you want a second copy of ours let me know.
Enclosing post office order for annual tithe rent for property in Eastington Parish.
The Canal House at Eastington will be vacant in March. It is more suitable for you than the Dudbridge house and the rent will be £15 a year plus rates of about £1. Let me know as soon as possible.
Owing to your continued neglect of duty consider yourself discharged and no longer in our employ. Immediately vacate the house you occupy at the Eastington Yard.
From tomorrow you will be in charge of the Eastington Yard. Lock up the office in the house and the tool box and take charge of the keys. Let Smith take his tools and see what he takes. Was he at work last Saturday?
I shall need a lock carpenter next June at Eastington Yard. Could you recommend one? (Terms given)
Don't pay any more rent to John Smith. I shall collect it.
Your Captains are leaving stone on our Lower Wharf rather than on the Upper Wharf for Stroud Local Board. A charge of 2d per ton will be made on all stone left there.
I have applied unsuccessfully to your Brimscombe Office for your Revised Classification. I therefore enclose a postal order for you to send me a copy by return.
You have still not sent me an amended account. Send me full particulars as requested and if correct I shall put it before my Committee for payment.
I enclose the claim for the return of the Income Tax deducted from the Dividend paid to the Official Trustees of Charitable Fund.
Please return the window frames and shutters which you removed from the premises at Dudbridge Wharf. They will be useful to us for our other properties.
Regarding your letter about the account for repairs to the weighing machine, the bill was sent to Newport for correction as I need more detail before considering payment.
I have never refused to pay carriage on the stone or said you agreed to deliver it to Sharpness, statements made by the Lydney Station Master. A man in his position should be more careful as to what he says.
I enclose our Revised Classification; could I have a copy of yours? Why did Davies and Whiting leave you? Davies said he heard I wanted a carpenter. Has he done any house work for you?
Mr Savage tells me their contract is for stone to be delivered to the Upper Wharf. If you unload it on the Lower Wharf you will have to pay us tonnage from the end of the month.
I enclose payment for your account. The bill was not sent to me in July and when it was sent it was lost and I assumed the Paynes had paid it. Your agent has said I refused to pay but I have had no communication with him.
I enclose five copies of our Classification & Schedule and eight copies of Maximum Tolls in a more convenient form.
I enclose payment for your account. The Station Master did not send it to me last July but later. I concluded Paynes had paid it and was surprised your agent said I had refused to pay as I have not been in communication with him.
I am surprised you repeatedly promise to pay your account and never do. You must now apply to the Committee for a monthly account. Please pay promptly so I can make up the half-yearly accounts.
I enclose a share certificate for S S Marling.
Mr Barnard of Ebley has bought almost half Dudbridge Wharf. Please divide the Land Tax between us.
I have been told the catch pits have been put in the wrong places and will not stop the silt washing into the Canal. Is this correct?
Please pay 2s 6d as you are constantly using Canal water.
You have overcharged us for Poor Rates on the wharves. Mr Barnard has purchased almost half of Dudbridge Wharf so please make allowance for this.
The rate of 6d per ton for stone has been charged for many years at Bristol Road Wharf and to any place up to the Lower Wharf at Wallbridge.
I understand you have the Tithe Map for Stonehouse Parish. We have recently purchased 3/4 acre in Stonehouse but I am unaware of the Dudbridge land.
Could we meet at Stonehouse Wharf early next week?
When your boat passes out of Framilode Lock with nine tons of Dynamite I shall have to send a man to act as watchman. Please observe the rules under Section 3 of the Explosives Act 1875.
The paving bricks have arrived and are much damaged. I shall pick out all I can use and take account of those I cannot use.
Granting permission for members of the Stonehouse Institute to bathe in the canal near the railway bridge as per Mr Sibly for £1 per annum.
Enclosing share certificate with half-yearly balance sheet and dividend warrant. You may inspect the Share Transfer Book at any time giving one day's notice.
Informing of the closure of the Severn Lock at Framilode and the Eastington Top Lock for three days next month.
The work at Framilode Lock is completed and that at Eastington is delayed.
The work at Eastington Top Lock is now completed and the Canal is open for traffic.
Please tell the tenant of the Ship Inn to have broken windows repaired. The painters have started work this week.
Please let me know when you have put the catch pits in so that I can report to the Committee. I suggest a larger one near the Ship Inn, Stonehouse than those at Ebley due to the volume of water that comes down the road there.
Re pleasure boats on Sundays: read the Bye Laws and you will see that no vessel is allowed to pass along the Canal on Sundays. The exception is if a charge of 5s is accepted. (Division of payment between men given)
It is normal to remove the towing path gates when the fence is removed. Tell the man there where you would like a gate and we can consider it.
Cut the bank back and make the towing path wider below Bristol Road Lock. Ask Mr Vick where he would like the gate. You can bring ashes up in the little boat if needed.
Mr Dash said if the rate was fixed at 3s 4d per ton he would give water the preference so I will fix at 8d. Tell Mr Waddy what we have done.
Re Sunday traffic: carry it out as near as you can but using your discretion and as per my previous letter.
Please arrange for your Ebley man to liase with one of ours to get a list of new houses draining into the Canal. Mr Phillips will also help.
I am unaware of 'Additional Powers' and have not applied to Parliament for any. The fee paid to the Board of Trade is an ordinary expense and deducted from profits.
On the towing path I met an employee going to the Yard with a bottle of beers which is against the Rules and Regulations. Tell them that the next time the man would immediately be sacked.
If your account for repairs to the doorway damage at Wallbridge is not paid by the end of the month it will be taken to the County Court.
Your barges and boats will not be able to pass down the Canal unless you pay the tonnage due. William Clark is aware.
I will look at the ditch in a few days and see what can be done about the water in the meadow.
The present value of shares is about £65.
I have seen the ditch near the weir. Please draw off water from the brook and we can meet there with my carpenter. We can also look at the bank then.
I have been told to remove the current iron fence on Dudbridge Wharf and put it up to the extent of our property.
Little & Mills are the Co's solicitors and would facilitate the matter of the share for sale of your deceased client.
To inform you that your services will not be required after 4 February.
The Committee orders you to pay for the repairs to the towing path door immediately.
Let me know the time you were mudding at the Shallow Lock. I note the late hours you and the men came to work and the time of leaving. If this doesn't alter then some change must be made.
Last year the ice was broken on the Ocean due to previous damage to the osiers. Now I find the boat started from the top of the five locks. If the ice is broken it is obviously too late to do anything.
Please send Registration Form 5 under the Railway & Canal Traffic Act.
Acknowledging receipt of probate of the will of Captain Wasbrough. The Co's solicitors will be in touch about next steps.
The plumbing has been fixed at the Ship Inn, Wallbridge and is ready to be connected to the water main. This application is for the main to be extended to allow the connection.
Please make your payment for taking water from the canal.
I have registered the probate of the will of the late Mr Wasbrough in the Transfer Book. Please send Share Certificate 12 so that I can endorse it.
The outside wall of the closet vault at Ryeford has fallen into the Canal. Please attend to it at once.
I enclose probate of the will of the late Mr Wasbrough and share certificate now under G Hall, together with two dividend warrants.
We understood that you would remove the pipe from your sewage wells at Dudbridge and make good the bank. Please let me know what has been done.
Please let me know when our Schedule of Rates is to be considered.
Your men back wagons carelessly under the shed at the Ship Inn, Wallbridge and you are responsible for any damage they cause. Please repair a brick pillar. We may give you notice to gave up part of the warehouse you rent as we may need it.
Please ask the Board to reconsider their decision not to extend their water main to the Ship Inn. Your surveyor required Town water to be laid on so we installed appropriate fittings. Continued …
From last page: Will the Board reconsider or will they consent to Stroud Water Co supplying water there?
Enclosing share certificate.
You said that you would hire the mud boat to take out the mud at the entrance to the Canal stopping your trade. The traders intimate they will tell the Board of Trade about the issue.
Please reply to my letter re the water supply to the Ship Inn. The Committee would let part of Wallbridge Wharf to you for £1-10 per year. As you have used the Wharf for some time a charge of £1-10 is made up to the 25th.
Sending Edmonds' wages up until he left. Tell him we can do without him until we start mudding again.
You must pay your tonnage by Wednesday otherwise the Clerk will detain your barges until you do. Signed by Chairman
The charge for the drain into the Canal from your Works will be 2s 6d a year, payable in advance.
Present value of shares is £65 each.
Tonnage due must be paid and in future must be paid on every cargo as vessels come down or they will not be allowed to pass. PS Settle on Monday; I have strict orders to close the account.
Your neglect in not putting protection against the fence by the osier bed at the Ocean has allowed lambs and small pigs to do about £1 worth damage to new growth. You will hear from me again after this has been discussed at the next Committee meeting.
I am to inform you that you are legally bound to fence against your cattle getting on to Co's land and the Committee hold you responsible for the damage.
If you do not remove the blue bricks now on Wallbridge Wharf by Tuesday a charge will be made.
Would you consent to tonnage charged on all Canal business with your Mills going to your account as we have some trouble with Mr Pearce respecting payment.
Acknowledging receipt of notice of giving up tenancy of Wallbridge Warehouse which will be discussed by the Committee.
Acknowledging receipt of your letter re tonnage charges for coal.
We are going to stack hay and other goods on our wharf at Wallbridge near the Warehouse. Water in the short pound often runs over the lock side and our part of that wharf, and your Co will be held responsible if any damage is caused.
Enclosing Share Certificate 173 made out to the Trustees and Executors of the Will of the late Mr Lewis and a half-yearly dividend warrant.
I met Mr Sanders at Wallbridge about water overflowing the Canal side at the lock. The lock keeper used bad language towards me. I leave it in your hands to deal with as you think fit.
Please inform me whether the Board decided not to extend their water main to the Ship Inn and not to consent to the Ship Inn being supplied by Stroud Water Co.
Water has run over the lock side again today. There has been no storm as an excuse.
Acknowledging receipt of transfer of Share Certificate 12. As Power of Attorney is required you will hear from the Company's solicitors.
Would your Company supply water to the Ship Inn, Wallbridge from your main which runs close by, if Stroud Board of Health approve? If they do not, would you supply a standpipe in the Company's garden nearby which is in Rodborough Parish? What would you charge?
Thanks for your reply regarding the bank at Wallbridge First Lock to prevent overflow. I cannot consent to a stock lock for Marsh to access the Wharf.
As you have not replied to my letter regarding work to be done on Bristol Road Wharf cottage I have given it to someone else.
As you wasted a lock full of water at the Double Lock and prevented the 'Volunteer' from taking her proper turn you are liable to a fine of £2 or even a summons.
I enclose Share Certificate 197 for Mrs Harriett Ruegg. Please fill I the form as to the payment of dividends.
The rent at the Wallbridge Warehouse is £17-10-0. Let me know your decision by Tuesday.
The Committee require you to pay a fine of 5s for taking your wrong turn and wasting the water at the Double Lock. Pay within 14 days or you will be summonsed and have to pay £2 + expenses.
I mistakenly told you the rent for the Upper Floor was £10 but the Committee require £10-8, as for the lower floor. If you cannot manage this I shall probably have to let it to someone else.
Please note the Canal from the Whitminster Lock to the Junction is full of mud interfering with heavy barges. Also the Barge- and Boat-men complain that rushes on the Bank sides cause difficulty in keeping their lines clear.
To inform you that the Committee accept your notice to quit your tenancy at Wallbridge Warehouse. Please give the key to the Wharfinger, William Clark.
Enclosing balance sheets for year ending 31 March. What proportion will be charged at the 6d rate?
Enclosing another bill for wharfage on bricks.
You will be allowed another drawback of 5s per barge on wheat brought from Bristol, Avonmouth or Portishead until the Board of Trade arrange the rates.
What is the cost of a weighing machine and its installation?
